Low sperm count or Oligospermia is defined as sperm count less than 15 million sperms per milliliter of semen. Lower sperm count only means that your sperms are less likely to fertilize your partner’s egg resulting in pregnancy. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot father a child. With newer research studies, various new treatment options as available with the help of which you can attempt to increase your sperm counts thus resulting in successful pregnancy.
Successful conception is dependent on a variety of factors. A healthy sperm must travel to a mature egg and fertilize it. In a male with low sperm count, there are far fewer sperms that are able to attempt this journey, so the chance of getting pregnant decreases significantly.
Getting pregnant with low sperm count may require fertility treatment. Depending on the cause of infertility in the male, specific treatment is necessary. Here are the 5 most commonly used treatment options available:
- IVF WITH ICSI
IVF is one of the most popular forms of fertility treatment. IVF has very good success rate and by combining IVF with ICSI (Intra – Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection), we can increase the success rate even further for men with low sperm count. ICSI involves collecting a sperm sample and cleansing it to isolate the strongest, healthiest sperm. Then a single sperm is collected and injected directly into the egg for fertilization. IVF with ICSI is often the best method option for men with low sperm count.
- HORMONAL TREATMENT
Sperm counts can be increased in males by providing hormonal injections such as Pergonal or Humagon or other gonadotropin injections. These hormones stimulate sperm production and is worth considering before attempting other invasive procedures such as IVF/ICSI.
- ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT
Rarely, low sperm counts can be due to some underlying infection that interferes with sperm production. Your clinician can offer a course of antibiotic treatment and check for increase in the sperm production.
- SURGERY
Sometimes low sperm count may be due to blockage in the sperm transport. In such cases, surgery may be an option for male patients with low sperm count.
- DONOR SPERMS
In cases where the sperm production is impossible, couples might choose to use donor sperms from sperm bank to fertilize the egg.
CONCLUSION
The first step to treating infertility is finding out what is likely causing it. Our experienced team of experts at Fertility Foundation/ SISU Hospital are read to help you start your family. Contact us at your earliest convenience to learn more about our comprehensive fertility service, including diagnostic testing and treatment.
